new technology

i tend to get all historical when i am in england. and i am going to open my paper today witha quote from a play called Becket (the story of thomas a beckett and his friendship wit Henry 11 in the 12th century--a friendship that was a tad strained when henry got a couple of his henchmen to bludgeon beckett to death); but anyway before the bludgeoning they used to get on very well. and beckett who spent a lot of time in France was alwasy trying to 'civilise' Henry. See below:

Thomas a Becket: Tonight you can do me the honor of christening my forks.
King Henry II: Forks?
Thomas a Becket: Yes, from Florence. New little invention. It's for pronging meat and carrying it to the mouth. It saves you dirtying your fingers.
King Henry II: But then you dirty the fork.
Thomas a Becket: Yes, but it's washable.
King Henry II: So are your fingers. I don't see the point.

technology doesn't always ahve a point. even if it's a fork